Fence-post.



E. E. METGALF.

FENCE POST. APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 1e, 190s.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

INVENTOR. dyn

WITNESSES: 8i C. M

f NITED STA'IlES PATENT GFFICE.

EDGAR E. M'ETUALF, Ol" ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-POST.

To all who/m it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR E. METCALF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Fence-Post 5 and I do hereby declare ythe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to metal fence posts 5 and has for its object to construct from angle iron a post of this class which is strong and durable in its construction, simple and cheap of manufacture and provided with integral and improved anchorage means.

The invention is fully described in the following specification and different species thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure l is an elevation of a quadruple angle-iron post embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a double angle-iron post embodying the invention, and Fig. 4 a crosssection thereof.

Referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, 1, 1, 1, l, designate four angle-iron bars, which are rigidly secured together in spaced relation by rivets or bolts 2 connecting the parallel flanges thereof and passing through spacing) tubes or ieces 3, which are interposed etweensuc flanges, thus forming a strong, rigid and comparatively light structure which is well adapted for use as a corner or end post.

To provide a simple and firm form of anchorage for the post, each bar has its lower end s lit longitudinally along the angle thereof to sever the two flanges from each other for a portion of their lengths, and one flange end is bent outwardly at riO'ht angles to form a lateral spur 4 for each bar of the post, as shown.- The spurs 4 are preferably so bent that two spurs project in one directionfrom one side of the post and two from the opposite direction, thus causing the straight or downwardly continuing flanges 5 to face each other in pairs as shown. It is thus apparent that as the flanges 5 are driven into the soil, the soil wllwork between them and have a wedge-like action thereon,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 16, 1908.

Patented March SO, 1909.

Serial No. l167,844.

whereby to force them apart, as is illustrated in Fig. 1, thus serving to more firmly anchor the post. This wedge-like action of the soil on the flanges 5 may be facilitatedby beveling the inner edges of the flange ends or giving the flanges a slight initial outward bend.

The post is laterally strengthened at the ground line by embedding it at or near such point in a concrete block 6.

The post shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is intended particularly as a line post, and comprises the two angle bar lengths 7, 7, which are secured together by bolts or rivets 8 or in any other suitable manner. The bars are preferably spaced apart by washers 9 encircling the bolts or rivets 8 to enable the line wires of a fence to be secured thereto by passing retaining staples or the like through the space between the bars and secured in any suitable manner against withdrawal therefrom. The lower end of each bar 7 is longitudinally split, and the end of each of the two facing Hanges is bent outwardly at right angles to form the oppositely projecting spurs or anchoring mem ers 10. The ends 11 of the other two fianges of the post continue straight, or substantially so, to permit the soil to work between them in the driving operation and bend them apart as described in connection with the post shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In setting up the posts, the holes are dug to the de th at which it is desired to have the latera spurs 4 and l0 dis osed, and the extensions 5 and 11 are then ri'ven into the soil at the bottom of the hole as far as the spurs will permit, which driving action causes the soil to work between such extensions and force them apart, whereby they cooperate with the lateral spurs 4-10 to anchor the post.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,--

l. A post comprising a plurality of angleiron bars secured together in slightly spaced relation, said bars having their lower end portions longitudinally split vand a fiange of each turned outwardly at such end with the straight fiange ends facing each other to adapt the soil to work between and force them apart when the straight flanges are driven therein.

2. A quadruple angle-iron post having its angle-iron bars rigidly secured together in parallel relation and each bar having its lower end portion split and one flange thereof continuing straight and the other iange of such end bent laterally at substantially right angles to its bar.

3. A quadruple angle-iron post having its bars secured together in parallel relation and each being longitudinally split at its lower end and having a flange bent to forni a, laterally projecting spur, the bent flanges of the several bars standing substantially at 10 right angles to their bars, and the straight flange ends of the bars facing each other in pairs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my naine to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

C. W. OWEN, HAZEL B. HIETT. 

